There is nothing as moving as a heartfelt song sung for a plant. That is why, Ombra mai fu, the opening aria from the 1738 opera Serse by George Frideric Handel, is probably the most popular number from any of his operas. Sung by the main character Xerxes I of Persia, the title translates from …
Chanel were showing-off their Spring/Summer collection earlier this week in Paris. It all took place in a constructed conservatory housing a magical cardboard garden around which the catwalk flowed. Models artfully paraded Karl Lagerfeld’s wares, themselves often dressed in floral inspired designs. If that wasn’t enough, at one point a model appeared trailed by large, …
What do these forests make you feel? Their weight and density, their crowded orderliness. There is scarcely room for another tree and yet there is space around each. They are profoundly solemn yet upliftingly joyous. You can find strength in them that you look for, showing how absolutely full of truth, how full of reality. …
Celia Birtwell has been immortalised by David Hockney in his painting Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1970-71), a painting cherished here mostly for the blue vase full of lilies resting on the table. Birtwell’s appearance in this famous painting is by no means her most significant achievement, being a successful and lauded fabric designer in her own …
Do you find yourself generally inspired or fascinated by one particular group of plants? Haven’t yet come across another person with your particular vegetative persuasions? Want to find like minded people to share information and plants with? If the answer is yes to any of the above, you may want to think about joining a plant …
A small tree inspired old poem and a big tree inspired even older picture to celebrate Christmas week. Happy Christmas, by Danish painter Johansen Viggo, 1891 little tree by E.E. Cummings, 1959 little tree little silent Christmas tree you are so little you are more like a flower who found you in the green forest …
Books are always the best gift if you get it right. An absolute burden to the receiver if you get it wrong. Plant books are generally right, the reason being if there are pictures it’s never a hardship to peruse them. Here are some ideas for a nice plant with art present for that special person. Check out Plant Curator’s shop …
Plants are the greatest gift of all because, hopefully, they keep on giving long after the memory of all the other Christmas tat is gone. If you give them to an artist, they may even be immortalised. Here are ten suggestions of plants worth considering. Send them through the post or hand over in person, …
Kate Bush, Sensual World, 1989 (Gardenia) Andy Warhol (Sunflowers) Michael Cera (Cactus) Billie Holiday (Gardenia) Rudolf Nureyev, 1963 (Roses) View image | gettyimages.com Truman Capote by Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1947 (Alocasia macrorrhiza) Michael Jackson (Lilies and more) Joan Allen as Georgia O’Keeffe (Poppies) Jean-Paul Gaultier, by Paul & Gilles (Daisies) U2 by Anton Corbijn (Joshua Tree) …
Winter Trees is the title poem of Plath’s 1971 posthumous collection of poetry published by her husband Ted Hughes. Winter Trees by Sylvia Plath The wet dawn inks are doing their blue dissolve. On their blotter of fog the trees Seem a botanical drawing– Memories growning, ring on ring, A series of weddings. Knowing neither …